EXBS: AZERBAIJAN ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - August

UNCLAS BAKU 000704 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC - JFRIEDMAN, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN DEPT FOR EUR/ACE - KBILGE CBP/INA FOR CSTALLWORTH, RWATT, KCHAISSON, CDONOFRIO USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY, RTALLEY DOC FOR PETERSEN-BEARD COAST GUARD FOR SHABTEMICHAEL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP AJ SUBJECT: EXBS: AZERBAIJAN ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - August 2009 ¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: ¶A. The unwillingness or inability of the Foreign Ministry to respond to diplomatic correspondence resulted in the cancellation of an International Border Interdiction Course scheduled for September 21-25 in McAllen, Texas for officers of the State Border Service and State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan. ¶B. Given that the State Border Service (SBS) is not currently participating in EXBS funded training, no further equipment purchases will be made for the SBS until they resume participation in EXBS training courses. ¶C. The EXBS Advisor continues to push the Foreign Ministry for a written response to the Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative proposal, but no response has yet been provided. The most recent embassy action was to send an official letter to Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov from Acting Assistant Secretary Vann Van Diepen. The letter was sent to the Ministry via diplomatic note on 21 July but no response has been received. II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD: The Advisor continues to work with Mr. Fuad Mikailoglu of the NGO Baku Center for Foreign Trade Security regarding the proposal for EXBS to fund a government-to-industry outreach website containing information regarding export control in Azerbaijan. ISN/ECC management has approved this project and the EXBS Advisor is currently working with the Grants Officer at Post to issue a grant. 10 August - The Advisor met with the Deputy Commander of the State Border Service Major General Farhad Taghizada at his request. General Taghizada wanted to know the status of the equipment upgrades he requested in December of 2008. The Advisor explained that as the SBS is not participating in any EXBS funded training courses, it will be difficult if not impossible for EXBS to provide further equipment upgrades to the SBS. The General expressed dismay at the current situation and stated that it may harm SBS bilateral working relationships with EXBS, the Embassy, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He further stated that the Leahy vetting row seems artificial and that the SBS has no control over the Foreign Ministry who is pushing the row. The Advisor explained that participation in the September IBIT Course in Texas would be a perfect opportunity for SBS participation and the General stated that he would push for SBS participation but in the end was unable to do so. The General stated that our cooperation should not be hampered by politics to which the Advisor explained that Leahy vetting is not optional but required by law and that there is therefore no way around vetting. 12 August - The Advisor chaired a meeting of the Peace and Security Working Group. In attendance were Mr. David Froman of the Office of Assistance for Europe and Eurasia and Mr. Bruce Pentola of the NNSA Second Line of Defense Program. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the group members to Mr. Froman and Mr. Pentola and brief them on the various work performed by the group to include ODC, DAO, SLD, RSO, POL/ECON, and POL/MIL. 14 August - The EXBS Advisor accompanied Security and Law Enforcement Officer of the Office of Assistance for Europe and Eurasia Mr. David Froman on a trip to the Astara Port of Entry (POE) on the Iranian Border. The site has been under total reconstruction for nearly two years and there seems to be no end in sight. The reconstruction has slipped several times indicating that it is a low priority for the Government of Azerbaijan. We were met by officers of both the State border Service and the State Customs Committee who seemed to have a good working and personal relationship. EXBS provided equipment was in use during the visit and it was obvious that the equipment is in constant use. ¶B. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD: Ten officers from the State Customs Committee attended the International X-Ray Interdict in Course (IXIT) in Laredo, Texas, from 24 to 28 August. ¶C. ITEMS DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD: Description US $ Value ¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE: TRAINING: U.S. Coast Guard sustainment assessment visit to Azerbaijan Coast Guard scheduled for 2 September -9 October. EQUIPMENT - Procurement in process: Description US $ Value Hand-held Trace Detectors/Analyzers Out for bid Baggage X-ray System Gamma spectrometers Gamma-Neutron Survey Meters Neutron Detectors X-ray Florescence Metal Analyzers Portal Type Metal Detectors Radioisotope Identifiers Density Meter Kits Fiberscope Kits ¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY: NONE POC for this report is David Hall, EXBS Advisor. LU